Lath-holder



(No Model.)

I. MILES.

LATE HOLDER.

No. 253,219. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

Ntra STATES ISAAC MILES, OF MANISTEE, MICHIGAN.

LATI-l-HOLDER.

' SPECIFICATION forming To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC MILEs,of the city of Manistee, in the countyof lWIanistee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and valuableLath-Holding Instrument, of which the following is a s]')eciiication.

The object of my invention is to provide an instrument by the use ofwhich labor may be saved and much time economized in the lathing ofbuildings. I accomplish this object by the use of the instrumenthereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsas forming a part of this description and specification. i

Figure `1 is an elevation of my improved lath-holder. Figi). is asectional view on the line 00 a2, Fig. l; and Fig.3 is a section on theline y y, Fig. l, showing one of the cross-bars in reversed verticalposition.

My invention iscomposed of three pieces of wood, preferably consistingof a main bar or shaft, in size on-e and one-eighth (1g) inch wide bythree-eighths (g) of an inch in thickness and two feetin length, and twocross bars or pieces at either end of the main shaft, in size sixeighths(-gl) of an inch wide by one-half of an inch in thickness and fifteeninchesin length. These cross-bars are fastened at their centers vto theend of the main bar, giving the entire instrument a length of two feet.The crossbars may be fastened`to the main bar by pinning or bydovetailing and pinning. The use of these cross-bars is to hold the lathin position while nailing them tothe building. To aid in this and togive the proper spaces between the laths, I haveinserted in them woodenpins at spaces apart corresponding to the width of the lath, and inthickness or diameter corresponding to the spaces desired between thelaths to afford the clinch of the plaster. These pins are one andone-half (1%) inch apart and three-eighths of an inch in diameter; butthe size may be varied. They are nine in number, (but the number mayalso be varied,) which affords spaces for eight laths, and they aresupplemented by as many coiled springs. These springs maybe made ofspring-steel or of brass, and their purpose is to press and hold tightlyany laths that may be narrow and that do not completely fill the spacesbetween the pins. By this means the laths are held tightly in positionwhile the instrumentis being moved part of Letters Patent No. 258,219,dated February *7, 1882,

Application filed August 29, 1881. (No model.) y

and placed in position for nailing the laths to the studs of thebuilding.

There are nine holes bored through the main shaft, or the same resultmay beaccomplished byanarrow slit. These are the media by which I fastenthe instrument to a stud of the building being lathed. They are bored insuch juxtaposition that some one of them will come over a stud when theinstrument is placed in position for nailing the laths to the studs ofthe building. I fasten it in position by means of an awl or prickinserted into the proper hole and pricked into a stud of the building.

On one end of the instrument and on the outside ofthe cross-bar I havefastened a metallic plate, one edge of which is raised even with theends of the pins or the thickness of an ordinary lath. The object ofthis plate is to even the laths at the ends, so that the joints betweenthe sections may be even, smooth, and true.

In this description and to explain my drawings, let et represent themain shaft; b, the cross-bars; c, the metallicplate; d, thespring-'steel or brass springs; e, the pins, and f the holes where the prick isinserted-into studs of building. 1

t Having described my invention, IY desire to explain briey its use.

By-the use of my lath holder the lathing of a building will be doneevenly, and the spaces or cracks between the laths will be exactly 'thedesired width, as thepieces may be made of any size to suit the partymost interested.`

Eight laths may beinserted initatatime, and these constitute a section,and then theinstrument should be removed one section, either to theright or tothe left, as the operator may desire. By this means a breakin joints in the lathing of the Wall is made which will prevent theplaster from cracking. IVhen the instrument containing the laths isfastened by the prick to the desired stud of the building all that isleft to do with that section is to stick and drive the nails into thelath and studs of the building where they cross, and this can be donevery rapidly. Then another section may be inserted,and so onto the end.Byits use the work of lathinga buildin g is greatly facilitated.

Materials, spaces, distances, proportions, and numbers may be changed,and the instrument may be made to adjust six, eight, ten, twelve,

IOO

or any desired number of latbs to the bnildlng.-

Having described my invention and its use, what; I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a. letti-holder, the combination, with the perforated bar a, ot'thecross-bars b b, each provided with pins e and springs d,substantially as described.

2. In a latl1-holde1, Iche combination, with the perforated bar a andcross-bars b b, of the pins c, springs d, and metallic plate c,Substantially als described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence 15 ot' two witnesses.

ISAAC MILES. Vit-nesses:

E. J. RICHMOND, L. S. ELLIS.

